Making Voting Easier: Convenience Voting in the 2008 Presidential Election
Working Paper No.:  95
Date Published:  2010-03-15

Author(s):

R. Michael Alvarez, California Institute of Technology

Ines Levin, California Institute of Technology

J. Andrew Sinclair, California Institute of Technology

Abstract:

In this study we analyze the choice of voting mode in the 2008 presidential election. We use a large-sample survey with national coverage that allows us to overcome limitations of previous studies. Our analysis provides a number of insights into some of the important debates about convenience voting. Among other things, we find little support for the hypothesis that convenience voting methods have partisan implications; although we do find voter attributes that lead to the choice of some particular convenience voting mode. Results like these have important implications for future moves towards convenience voting and the design of new outreach campaigns.

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Making Voting Easier: Convenience Voting in the 2008 Presidential Election  (Size: 622 KB)